Why the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders' Salaries Are So Low | TIME

The Nugget

The Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders receive low salaries despite the profitable organization and intense demands placed on them, highlighting the disparity in pay compared to other roles within the organization.

Make it stick

🏈 Low salaries are justified based on opportunity and passion for dance rather than monetary compensation.
💃 Former cheerleaders faced physical tolls and health care costs due to rigorous demands, showcasing the hidden costs of the job.
💸 The cheerleaders' pay disparity is stark when compared to the substantial earnings of NFL players within the same organization.

Cheerleaders balance their role with full-time jobs to make ends meet.
They face long hours, including at least 20 hours of practice weekly, game days, appearances during the NFL season, training camp, and off-season programming.
Despite the demanding schedules and physical/emotional toll, their salaries are low, leading to the need for additional employment.

While the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders earn about $75,000 per year, the average NFL player salary is around $2 million.
The team's ownership value and players' earnings highlight the stark discrepancy in pay within the organization.

Cheerleaders' salaries don't reflect the potential for long-term physical damage from acrobatic feats and intense performance demands.
Former cheerleaders share experiences of multiple orthopedic surgeries and injuries related to their time as cheerleaders.

"They're not paid a lot, but the facts are they actually don't come here for the money. They come here for something that's actually bigger than that to them." - Charlotte Jones, Dallas Cowboys Executive Vice President
"It's unfortunate that with how much they pretend or say that we are important and the face of the organization, the way they treat us and pay us does not come near to equal that." - Anonymous former cheerleader
"Yes, it is prestigious. But at the end of the day, prestige doesn't pay my rent." - Erica Wilkins, former DC cheerleader
"It's a full-time commitment, but part-time pay. It's a lot of work." - Former Dallas Cowboy cheerleader Kat Puryear
"The guys on the practice squad, who don't even touch the field half of the time, getting 80 grand more than we do a year." - Anonymous former cheerleader

This summary contains AI-generated information and may have important inaccuracies or omissions.